# Date: 1919-05-13

is presently experiencing absolute famine and an actual shortage of spring seeds. Of the entire population, only one third will be able to sow, while the remaining two thirds are doomed to death by starvation. In connection with this, the cold spring and frosts portend a probable crop failure, and it is possible that the people will perish by the hundreds from hunger.

The Executive Committee, for the purpose of saving the starving masses from death, petitions the Council of People's Commissars to extend this decree to the Khalbuzh volost within as short a time as possible, since there are very many who wish to resettle elsewhere.

Chairman
Krasnov

Secretary
Lebedev

1 The document bears a resolution by S. P. Sereda from May 21, 1919 marked "Most urgent" concerning the dispatch of a telegram to the Kologriv Executive Committee (Kostroma Province) with a positive response.

III
ADDENDUM TO THE TELEGRAM FROM S. P. SEREDA 
TO THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL 
OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT

[May 23, 1919]

I insist on exceptional mobilization of efforts to arrange for the resettlement of migrants immediately upon their arrival.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Kozlov

Revolutionary Military Council Civil Admin. Migrant Chernogubov
Copy Voronezh Gubplenbezhezh*
Copy Petrograd Eight Popov

In addition to telegram 552, I urgently request that you prepare to receive twenty thousand migrants, calculated at approximately two thousand per week arriving in Kozlov in the near future. Organize along the migration routes to the resettlement sites, with mandatory broad assistance from the institutions of Plenbezhezh, unloading and rest stops; establish contact with the Petrograd Eight, as well as with other workers for organizing the work. Do not slacken the energy already demonstrated; do not hesitate before any expenditures. Report on all difficulties encountered that obstruct the fulfillment of this assignment so that urgent measures may be taken to eliminate them. Inform Fedyushin, who accompanied train number one, that I request him to remain at your disposal, at least temporarily, with assignment to service in the TsKCh.

Commissar of Land Sereda

* Provincial College for Affairs of Prisoners of War and Refugees.

—64

IV
ADDENDUM TO THE TELEGRAM FROM S. P. SEREDA 
TO THE CIVIL ADMINISTRATION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL 
OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT

[May 23, 1919]

I insist on maximum energy on the part of all land and resettlement workers for the immediate arrangement of the arriving migrants. The strictest responsibility.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Kozlov

Revolutionary Military Council Civil Admin.* copy to Voronov

By order of the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin, I request that you seriously prepare in the most urgent manner to receive twenty thousand migrants arriving in the near future on the Don. I request that you, if possible, personally tour the future settlement sites and designate places for their establishment. Reach an agreement; widely involve in the matter of identifying free lands for resettlement the Petrograd Eight, as well as other workers who arrived in train number one. Send a list of the stanitsy where you propose to settle them, indicating the number of souls to be settled. Report concretely on your other plans for the establishment of the resettled population, supporting your report with figures. Direct resettlement in the first instance to the northern part of the region. All means, all energy at the present time must be directed exclusively toward the organization of resettlement and the economic development of the region. Eliminate unnecessary deadening bureaucracy; the organization of administrative departments must now recede to the background.

Commissar of Land Sereda

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM P. I. VOYEVODIN¹

[May, no earlier than 13, 1919]

To the Politburo of the Central Committee.

Full leave for 2 months with maintenance*, with allowance.

Published incompletely in 1976 
in the book "Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. 
Biographical Chronicle," vol. 7, 
p. 192

* One word in the telegram that follows is not deciphered.